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motivation

My haters and naysayers sometimes do as much for me as do my friends.
My friends are way too polite to point out my flaws,
but my haters go to great lengths to advertise and expose them all.
My haters and naysayers are efficient, diligent and attentive.
They make me continually search for ways to improve my talent and services.
They would take my accomplishments away from me if they could.
They keep me alert, holding on to what I have,
being more creative; doing everything I should.
They prevent me from becoming lackadaisical, careless and incompetent.
I need that discipline they enforce upon me;
having no accidents.
Haters, naysayers and non-believers have made me a better person,
they have been good to me.
I salute them, I say thank you. Making me the best I can be…

~There is so much good in the worst of us;
and so much bad in the best of us;
that is doesn’t behoove any of us;
to talk about the rest of us.~ unknown

Down a hole like Alice in Chains, you would think I’d give up like I had nothing to gain.
Actually, I flourished, coming quite far. Instead of being an ion, I’m a shooting star.
Where light was dim, it now shines bright.
Once I was low but now have climbed to the maximum height.
Preparation, education and a little hope.
Painted a picture so vivid, you can call me Picasso.
With a chip on my shoulder and a plan in my head,
I’m surprising all the ones who thought I was dead.
Like Incubus, they called me a loser; trying to make me a stat.
Now I’m hitting homes runs, Barry Bonds at bat.
That’s what happens when true motivation, meditation and determination
rides a campaign of change and hope – forming a foundation.
I’m not Obama, the President but a president of something they couldn’t fathom;
setting precedent.
Pham stand up, Kings stand up! Kweens, kids, Konscious Kingdom, stand up!!!
Wake up, to our true awareness, physical and mental.
In coming days, in every way, it’s essential.
Never let em’ hold you back, strive for progress. See the bigger picture, never settle for less. Break the atmosphere, go beyond the stratosphere.
Open your mind to the universe, go far instead of near.
Break out the box, that comfort zone in which you stored.
Try something different, time to explore.
The probability of possibilities, you can be more than what you see.
Believe is all I ask, soak in these words, put your trust in me.
If I can do a 180 in the midst of chaos, this abyss; you are free, navigate,
get knowledge and appropriate a can’t miss.
As long as you open your mind, one thought can start a new reality.
We are what we think, kingdom come with me…

Marinate and masticate on this knowledge that I feed.
Know thyself is really the only college you need.
Life lessons being cooked in the pot of your soul.
Hope you get the picture before you’re sent to rot in a hole.
Awaken parts of your brain that remain unused.
Putting pieces back together that had come unglued.
Recognize and realize the potential you harbor.
I know you’re tired, but you can go a little farther.
Put your doubts and insecurities inside of a box.
Close it shut, seal it tight and deadbolt all the locks.
What’s inside of you is true, if only you believe.
Dig deep within yourself and see what you retrieve.
You can create love or hate; choose joy or depression.
Look at the glass half full without a thought or a question.
That’s the beauty of existence; free will is a given.
If you don’t like your situation, then change how you’re livin’.

In a letter my homegirl wrote me, she made the statement that she believes it is “hunting season on Black Men” and I agree with that. We are being ostracized and dehumanized daily by the media and sadly, by our own actions. There is a solution that can be enacted to diffuse these acts of genocide.

The first thing they teach a student in the police academy is when you are being fired upon, get down on the ground or crouch behind something. Make yourself as small of a target as possible. This action greatly decreases your chances of being shot. So, since we as Black men are being “hunted”, we must make ourselves as small as a target as possible. How can this be done without looking weak? Through knowledge and education.

We must empower ourselves through the knowledge of self and of life. This will in turn strengthen our spirits and our minds. We will no longer feel as if we are inferior or of a lesser value than our counterparts. This will allow us to instill great morals and principals back into our essence and communities; thus elevating our self-esteem, confidence and morale. It will alter how we look at our selves and life.

An educated man is a respected man. Once we are able to climb to the same level of education as our counterparts, we won’t look to them as being superior or “smarter”. We will carry a higher image of ourselves, which will motivate us to want better for ourselves and the people in our community. Education and knowledge enlightens the mind. Right now, we are blindly walking in to the “cross hairs” of those hunting us.

Remember, before they can begin to hunt us, they have to make us look worthy of being hunted. The more despicable and malevolent they make us look, the easier it is to hunt us. The crazier and more ignorant we act, the easier it becomes for them to pick us off. We must strive to make ourselves look less repulsive so we can look less “killable”.

Let us carry ourselves with dignity and respect. Let us walk a higher path than what we are currently on. We need to stop walking right in the line of fire. Get Down!!!

This poem was created by a young brother who happened to become my cell mate. I immediately noticed his talent, but his focus and vision was unpolished. After some meaningful conversations between us, he handed me this jewel. I would love to share it with the Kingdom. This young Prince goes by the name of Quala T…

It’s a cold world that we are living in, brothers killing brothers over dividends.

Our sistah’s being robbed of their innocence

and we are the ones to blame, but we act like we’re innocent.

We are supposed to be leaders, but we are followers

because we done let the street devour us.

I guess it’s all over for the Black man

and I can’t take that back. It’s reality, the facts stand…

All we know is robbery and homicide

and homie, you ain’t real if you ain’t down to ride.

Don’t we realize we’re making mama tired?

Take a look in her eyes, can’t you tell that she’s no longer inspired?

Mama, I apologize for everything, but I was hooked on fast cash and Mary Jane